History

Designation History

This region has a long history of being considered for national marine sanctuary designation. Today, Papahānaumokuākea is a national marine sanctuary, a marine national monument, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The area has long been protected through multiple presidential proclamations, regulations, and other area-based management designations, including national wildlife refuges, state wildlife sanctuary and marine refuge, and NOAA's Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. Efforts to designate Papahānaumokuākea as a national marine sanctuary date back over two decades, beginning when the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands were first designated as a Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve and President Clinton directed NOAA to consider designating the area as a national marine sanctuary.

  • President Bill Clinton stands at a podium and speaks to an audience

    2000

    President William J. Clinton created the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve by Executive Order 13178, which directed the secretary of commerce to designate the reserve as a national marine sanctuary.

    Photo: NOAA

  • President George W. Bush signing a document at a podium

    2006

    President George W. Bush designated Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument by Presidential Proclamation 8031 based in part on the sanctuary designation process that was already underway and near completion.

    Photo: Official White House Photo by Eric Draper, 2006

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    2010

    Papahānaumokuākea became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Photo: Andy Collins/NOAA

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    2016

    President Barack Obama followed the original monument designation with Presidential Proclamation 9478, designating the Monument Expansion Area to the full extent of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The proclamation directed the secretary of commerce to consider designating Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Monument Expansion Area as a national marine sanctuary.

    Photo: Official White House photo by Pete Souza

  • 2021

    The joint explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directed NOAA to initiate the sanctuary designation process.

  • 2025

    Sanctuary designation took effect and became final on March 3, 2025, after the close of a review period of 45 days of continuous session of Congress.

These executive orders, presidential proclamations, and the existing regulations for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument served as benchmarks for the national marine sanctuary regulations. NOAA published the final environmental impact statement and final management plan on Dec. 13, 2024, and the final rule and record of decision on Jan. 16, 2025.